Friends, I have told you what Udi is. It is not the
ordinary ash. It is the ash from the dhuni which Baba had lit by his yogic power. Hence
the Udi has all the powers of Baba. It has banished the agonies and cured incurable
diseases of innumerable persons. Here are a few real instances.

A certain doctor's nephew had bone-cancer. The doctor tried
all remedies, including surgical operation, but in vain. With acute pain, the boy cried
pitiably. At last the doctor brought the boy to Baba and threw all burden on him. Daily
Baba placed a blessing glance on the wound and applied Udi on it. Within a week, the boy
was completely cured.

Another doctor had a guinea-worm in his leg, which was
terribly swollen and caused intense pain. He approached Baba with a request to release him
from his mortal coil and thus end his agony for good. Baba daily applied Udi to his leg
and also administered it orally. One day, an attendant inadvertently stepped on the
doctor's affected leg with the result that the wound burst open and the guinea-wom was
driven out. The doctor was soon cured.

There are countless instances of this kind. But I will tell
you one, deserving special mention.

Nanasaheb Chandorkar, one of the earliest devotees of Baba,
was a mamlatdar at Jamner, about 24 miles from Jalgaon in Khandesh. One can go upto
Jalgaon by railway and then take a tonga.

Nanasabeb's daughter, Maina had come to Jamner for
delivery. For fortyeight hours, she was in labour and her very life was in danger.
Nanasaheb was appealing to Baba to come to her succour. Sai Baba as if 'heard' it in
Shirdi. Ramgir, a resident bhakta, was then inspired to go to his village in Khandesh. He
came to ask for Baba's permission. Baba said, "Yes. Start immediately. But first go
to Nanasaheb at Jamner, givehim Udi and Arati, and then proceed home". Baba gave him
a packet of Udi from the dhuni with his own hands and the Arati on a piece of paper to be
recited at Maina's bedside. Ramgir took the two things, but, in a tone of anxiety, he
asked, "Baba, I have only two rupees with me. With this much. I can barely go to
Jalgaon. But how could I make a detour to Jamner and thence to my place ?" "You
need not worry," Said Baba, "You only go to Jalgaon. Everything will be arranged
thereafter."

With firm faith in Baba, Ramgir started. He had to pay Rs.
1-14-0 for railwav ticket and only two annas were left with him. About midnight the train
reached Jalgaon and Ramgir got down. Just then a sepoy in Khaki uniform approached him and
said "Sir, you are Ramgir from Shirdi, I hope". Ramgir said he was. "Then
come along," said the sepoy, Nanasaheb has sent me with a tonga for you." Ramgir
thought that as Baba had hinted he must have sent a word to Nanasaheb and asked him to
make these arrangements. The sepoy gave him a few snacks, which he said, were sent bv
Nanasaheb. Then the tonga started and by dawn, it arrived at Jamner. The sepoy, pointing
to a distant 'building, said, "That is Nanasaheb's office." Ramgir alighted
there to ease himself and went behind a bush. But as he came out, what did he find ?
Nothing, no horses, no carriage, no sepoy. All had disappeared. Dumbfounded, he went to
Nanasaheb's office and, obtaining Nanasabeb's address, went there. Saluting Nanasaheb, he
said, "Baba has sent me here from Shirdi and has given you these things." A
thrill went through Nanasaheb on hearing this. He said, 'Oh Baba, Baba! What should I say
to you ? I called your name here and hearing my call in Shirdi, you at once ran here in
the form of these things. A million pranams to you ! "

Nanasaheb applied the Udi to his daughter and put a little
in her mouth too. Then he sat by her bedside, reciting the arati. And would you believe it
? In half an hour, Maina delivered safely. Ramgir was waiting outside. Nanasabeb came out
and thanked him profoundly. Eagerly Ramgir asked, "Nana, your tonga brought me to
Jamner all right. But then as I got down to ease myself, it suddenly vanished. Where is
that tonga ?" "Which tonga ?" asked the puzzled Nana. "Your tonga
which you had sent for me to Jalgaon Station. Your sepoy met me there, g;ave me your
delicious snacks and brought me here with great speed."

With tears of gratitude, Nanasaheb said, "Ramgir, I
had not the faintest idea that you were coming. So how could I have sent the tonga ? This
is all no doubt done by Baba. How unbounded is your kripa, Oh mother Sai !"

Later, Nanasaheb himself related this whole incident to the
people assembled at Shirdi. It therefore bears a stamp of authority.